William Lese, 15, checks his training helicopter in preparation for take-off at Wings Air LLC. The young pilot has been flying helicopters for almost a year, and said, "Aviation is one of my extracurricular activities." (Feb. 5, 2012)

Wings Air at the Westchester County Airport

Many young pilots learn how to fly helicopters with Wings Air LLC at the Westchester County Airport.

(Credit: Elizabeth Daza)

William Lese, 15, checks his training helicopter in preparation for take-off at Wings Air LLC. The young pilot has been flying helicopters for almost a year, and said, "Aviation is one of my extracurricular activities." (Feb. 5, 2012)

(Credit: Elizabeth Daza)

William Lese, 15, logs his flight hours at Wings Air LLC in White Plains. The teenager is training to become a helicopter pilot and said, "Whenever we were in the airport when I was younger, we'd always find the biggest window we could and just sit down and watch the planes." (Feb. 5, 2012)

(Credit: Elizabeth Daza)

William Lese, 15, flies a Schweizer 300 helicopter during an aviation lesson at Wings Air LLC in White Plains. Lese said, "It's one of my extracurricular activities." (Feb. 5, 2012)

William Lese, 15, prepares to fly a Schweizer 300 helicopter during an aviation lesson with his instructor, Spencer Kinne, at Wings Air LLC in White Plains. Lese said, "It's one of my extracurricular activities." (Feb. 5, 2012)

(Credit: Elizabeth Daza)

Liz Jacobi, 19, at Wings Air LLC in White Plains, where she is training to be a helicopter pilot. Jacobi, who decided to attend aviation school instead of college, says, "Everyone is always kind of a little taken aback when I tell them. It's not what you ordinarily hear." (Dec. 13, 2012)

(Credit: Elizabeth Daza)

William Lese, 15, flies a Schweizer 300 helicopter during an aviation lesson at Wings Air LLC in White Plains. Lese said, "It's one of my extracurricular activities." (Feb. 5, 2012)

(Credit: Elizabeth Daza)

Stuart Webster, an aviation instructor at White Plains LLC, stands in front of a training helicopter. Many of Webster's pupils are teens, including several who attend aviation school as an alternative to college. (Dec. 13, 2012)